asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance in what circumstances she is prepared to disclose addresses of pensioners, when, those pensioners have incurred debts in the past which they have not honoured.

Addresses of insured persons, including pensioners, are treated as confidential, and I am not in any circumstances prepared to disclose an address to assist in the recovery of a private debt.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what is her assessment of the reasons for the increase of 7 per cent. between 15th December 1964 and 16th November, 1965, in the number of insured persons absent from work owing to sickness.

At the times of year mentioned upper respiratory infections account for a substantial proportion of new claims and the numbers can vary markedly from week to week. For example, the November 1965 figure which he quotes was lower than the November 1964 figure; on the other hand, the December 1965 figure was higher than that for December 1964. Such fluctuations are to be expected.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if she will give the number of unemployed men and women, respectively, who were disqualified from benefit under the six weeks rule, and the number of these people who appealed successfully and unsuccessfully, respectively, to the local tribunal during the year 1964.

Separate figures for men and women are not available but the total number of such disqualifications in 1964 was about 355,000. The corresponding number of appeals heard by local tribunals was 9,537 of which 2,569 were successful and 6,968 unsuccessful.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what is her assessment of the reason for the increase of 14 per cent. between 15th December, 1964 and 16th November, 1965, in the number of insured persons absent from work owing to industrial injury.

Facts necessary for a worthwhile judgment on the possible significance of such figures cannot be available for some months.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if she will give the number of men and women, respectively, who having unsuccessfully appealed to the local tribunal, on the subject of benefit, subsequently appealed to the Commissioner, and the number of such appeals which were successful and unsuccessful, respectively, during the year 1964.

Figures are not available for appeals to the Commissioner by men and women separately. In 1964 436 appeals were decided by the Commissioner in cases involving the six weeks disqualification rules for unemployment benefit, of which 322 were decided against the claimant and 114 were decided wholly or partly in his favour. In some cases the appeals were made by an insurance officer, not by the claimant.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if she will give the number of men and women, respectively, who appealed against the decision of the Commissioner in respect of benefit successfully and unsuccessfully, during the year 1964.

The Commissioner is the final appellate authority appointed under the National Insurance Act. There is no right of appeal against his decisions.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if she will give the average cost, including overheads, of appeals held before local tribunals and before the Commissioner, respectively, during the year 1964.

The average administrative costs in 1964 of an appeal heard by a National Insurance Local Tribunal and the National Insurance Commissioner respectively were about £10 and £90.

asked the Minister of Health when it is intended to continue the remodelling of ward units, phase two, at the Nottingham City Hospital.

In the autumn, subject to the completion of planning.

asked the Minister of Health what are the reasons for a short age of beds at the hospitals in the north east of Liverpool; and what steps are being taken to remedy the situation.

Hospital provision in this particular area has not kept pace with the great increase in population in recent years. The new Fazakerley Hospital, on which work has started, will increase the number of beds serving the area by 650.

asked the Minister of Health what are the reasons for the continued delay in the completion of the new out-patient department at Walton Hospital, Liverpool; and what steps are being taken to speed up the work.

The cumulative effects of labour disputes, low productivity and, in the first year, bad weather. Additional supervisory staff has been allocated and a revised programme prepared to co-ordinate the work of the engineering and main contractors.

asked the Minister of Health how many patients are awaiting treatment due to the non-availability of tubes for Resomax 300,000-volt X-Ray therapy machines.

It is not possible to assess the number of patients awaiting treatment on particular apparatus. Alternative equipment has been offered to hospitals awaiting replacement tubes.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will instruct the East Anglia Regional Hospital Board to carry out a feasibility test as to whether the present site of the Lowestoft Hospital is capable of the further development required for maternity beds and an enlargement of the hospital generally.

I understand that the Regional Hospital Board have already done this.

asked the Minister of Health if he will now give the starting dates for the building of Phase I and Phase II of the new general hospital on the Andressey site, at Burton-upon-Trent.

The forecast for the start of Phase I remains 1967–68; the timing of later phases is under consideration in the current review of the hospital building programme.

asked the Minister of Health what is the standard number of beds per 1,000 of the population for maternity use; and how the Lowestoft district compares with the national standard.

The number of maternity beds in the area is substantially below the present national average of 0·45 per thousand population, but will be above it when the new unit at Great Yarmouth is functioning.

asked the Minister of Health how many patients, resident in the area served by the West Kent Hospital at Maidstone, were admitted to other hospitals in Kent and Sussex in the last convenient period for which figures are available; how many were admitted to London teaching hospitals and hospitals elsewhere in a similar period; and if he will take steps to obtain an estimate of such figures as are not readily available.

No recent figures are available, but in 1960 approximately 990 patients resident in the area served by hospitals of the Central Kent Group were admitted to other hospitals in Kent and Sussex, 220 to London teaching hospitals, and 140 to hospitals elsewhere.

asked the Minister of Health what proposals he has for transferring hospitals in England and Wales from the responsibility of regional hospital boards to Boards of Governors of teaching hospitals; and what principles guide him in reaching a decision.

I am considering a proposal for the transfer of St. Giles' Hospital and St. Francis' Hospital, together with certain clinics, from the Camberwell Hospitals Management Committee to the Board of Governors of King's College Hospital. I understand that further proposals may be made to me in due course by the Joint Consultative Committees for Central London. I regard such transfers as right in principle when they will improve hospital services in the area and conform with the responsibility of Boards of Governors for clinical teaching.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will investigate the living conditions of junior medical staff of Crump-sail Hospital, Manchester.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply today to my hon. Friends the Members for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Alfred Morris), Manchester, Exchange (Mr. Will Griffiths), Stockport, North (Mr. Gregory), and Salford, West (Mr. Orme).

asked the Minister of Health if he is satisfied that no suspect corned beef is now on sale to the public; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Minister of Health what action was taken by his Department, and at what stage, to ensure that stocks of corned beef from Establishment Argentina 1819 were not sold to the public.

I have no evidence that any is on sale, and would refer my hon. Friends to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Huddersfield, West (Mr. Lomas) on 26th January, 1966, by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Advice to withhold meat from Establishment 1819 was originally given in June, 1964, and confirmed in December, 1964.

asked the Minister of Health when the claim of the Apothecaries' Hall Dispensers' Association for an increase in salary, which has been under review since September, 1964, will be met, in view of the dwindling numbers of this profession due to insufficient remuneration.

The claim in 1964 was made by the Staff Side of the Whitley Council. A settlement of three per cent. was agreed in November, 1964, effective from 1st September, 1964, on the understanding that the work and responsibilities of dispensing assistants would be reviewed during 1965. A revised claim was made in August, 1965. The study has been completed and the Whitley Council is meeting on 17th February. Numbers employed are increasing annually.

asked the Minister of Health how many separate tests have been carried out in the past three months on freezing balls or pink elephants, used as an alternative to domestic ice for cooling drinks, which have been imported from Hong Kong; what is the number of samples tested; in which laboratories the tests were carried out; on what occasions, pathogenic organisms have been detected; what have been the maximum and average number of bacteria present reported as a result of these tests; how these results compare with standards considered suitable for drinking purposes; and if he is satisfied that the water in these samples is fit for human consumption.

Tests made in this country indicate that the water in many of these objects does not comply with normal standards for drinking water, though no organisms likely to cause human illness have been identified.I have received information concerning 346 separate tests on 646 of the coolers not all of which were imported from Hong Kong; the liquid from some was pooled for the purpose of testing. Tests were made in laboratories in London, Bournemouth, Bristol, Coventry and Southampton. The maximum number of organisms in a sample was approximately 1,000,000 per ml. and many counts over 30,000 per ml. were found. It is not possible to give an average count. The presence or absence of coliform organisms or of E. coli type 1 are the criteria for the quality of drinking water. In many tests no coliform organisms were present, but the highest number was over 180 per 100 ml. E. coli type 1 has been found on three occasions.

asked the Minister of Health what are the factors which have inhibited the carrying through of the experimental incentive scheme for maintenance workers in the National Health

Authority	Type of Computer			Year of Installation
Manchester Regional Hospital Board	I.B.M. 1401	…	…	1961
South Western Regional Hospital Board	I.C.T. 1301	…	…	1963
Birmingham Regional Hospital Board	I.C.T. 1500	…	…	1964
The London Hospital	Elliott 803	…	…	1964
Leeds Regional Hospital Board	I.B.M. 1401 G	…	…	1965
North West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board	N.C.R. 315	…	…	1965
Digital computers have been ordered by:—
The Ministry	Elliott 4120	…	…	1966
Welsh Hospital Board	I.C.T. 1903	…	…	1966
Leeds Regional Hospital Board	I.C.T. 1902*	…	…	1967
Liverpool Regional Hospital Board	I.C.T. 1902	…	…	1967
South West Metropolitan and Wessex Regional Hospital Boards jointly	I.C.T. 1902	…	…	1967
Newcastle Regional Hospital Board	I.C.T. 1902	…	…	1967
* This is to replace the existing I.B.M. 1401 G computer.
All the machines used by hospital authorities are used on broadly similar work, and provide services to hospitals including accounting and payroll, the processing of statistical data for administrative and medical purposes, clinical calculations and new hospital building. The computer to be used by the Ministry will include the processing of statistical data and National Health Service Superannuation information.
Special applications
University College Hospital are using a commercially owned Elliott 803 computer for a wide range of tasks. Hospital authorities and the Ministry make use of commercial bureaux services, and installations at Universities and research establishments.

Part of the scheme is now in operation.

asked the Minister of Health what progress he has made in his consultations with the Medical Research Council about the use of electronic devices for processing cervical cancer test slides.

The possibility of using electronic scanning devices for detecting cervical cancer is still under consideration with the Medical Research Council. The Council are supporting several research projects which it is hoped will lead to practical advances, but the problem is complex and still a long way from solution.

asked the Minister of Health if he will list the computers being used by his Department, including hospitals and hospital boards, indicating in each case the type of computer, the date of installation and the operating function in each case.

Digital computers have been installed by:

asked the Minister of Health what investigation he has made of the circumstances surrounding the delay of six months in placing an order for the supply of a wheel chair to one of the hon. Member for Woking's constituents, and with what result; and what action has been taken to prevent a recurrence of such delays.

This chair, which was delivered on 6th January, has very special features and had to be specially produced. Steps have been taken to prevent avoidable delays in such cases.

asked the Minister of Health what was the live birth rate, per 1,000 estimated population, for the area covered by the Colne Valley constituency, according to local authority districts, for the year 1964; and how it compares with the national average.

The figures are as follows:

Live birth rate per 1,000 estimated population: 1964
Colne Valley Urban District	16·3
Denby Dale Urban District	17·0
Holmfirth Urban District	17·6
Meltham Urban District	17·9
Saddleworth Urban District	16·4
Colne Valley parliamentary constituency	16·9
England and Wales	18·5

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number of industries and trades in which training boards have been set up together with the total staff now engaged in this work.

Ten boards have so far been established under the Industrial Training Act. Five staff in my Department are solely engaged on this work.

asked the Minister of Labour how many Commonwealth immigrants with special skills entered Great Britain under category B of the voucher scheme during 1965.

The information is not available as the records of voucher holders entering the country are not analysed by category. 7,402 vouchers in category B were issued in 1965.

asked the Minister of Labour by what percentage the index of retail prices has increased since retirement pensions were last raised.

The index of retail prices rose by about 3·8 per cent. between 16th March, 1965 and 14th December, 1965.

asked the Minister of Labour on what date the report of the inquiry into the Bristol dock strike will be published.

I am expecting that the report will be published by the end of this week.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the annual quota of work permits issued to employers for the employment of alien workers in the United Kingdom; and how this quota is arrived at.

There is no annual quota. Permits for the employment of alien workers are issued only where there is an offer of employment for which British labour is not available.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources when he proposes to introduce legislation to reform the leasehold system.

I hope to introduce a Bill in the present Session.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources if he will publish the staff figures for his Department.

The staff numbered 304 on 4th February, 1966. These figures include the staffs of the National Parks Commission and the Water Resources Board.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works when the Building Regulations 1965—Explanatory Memorandum on Fire, Stairs, Space and a General Index was published.

This memorandum was published on the 31st January, 1966.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he will take steps to landscape the slopes of the canal through Regent's Park.

I will have this suggestion examined and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the recent accident in the village of Cold Hatton, whether she has yet received plans from the Shropshire County Council for the improvement of this stretch of the trunk road running through the village.

No. This is a classified road for which the Shropshire County Council is the highway authority.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she is aware of the impossibility of proceeding with the redevelopment of the Hertford town centre, and also of the congestion in the town centre which will occur if the building of the Old Cross to South Street link road, Hertford, is deferred; and whether she will give consideration to including this in the programme of building before 1970.

The link road is only at an early stage of planning and on present evidence there is no reason why it should be preferred to many other schemes waiting to be done. Conditions at Hertford will be considerably eased by the relief road now being built.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will arrange for a signpost on the M.4 motorway pointing to West Drayton.

Because of the need to name other places, it is not possible to include West Drayton on the motorway signs. But additional signs are to be provided at the Cherry Lane roundabout to show the way to West Drayton.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will now give the starting date for the proposed improvement on the Birmingham-Birkenhead A.41 trunk road, in the vicinity of Back-ford, near Chester.

Work should start early in 1967.

asked the Minister of Transport whether in the emerging pattern of the Scottish railway system, as described in paragraph 293 of the White Paper on the Scottish Economy, Command Paper No. 2864, a route in the North-East between Perth, Dundee, Aberdeen and Inverness includes the direct line between Perth and Inverness.

Yes. The Railways Board has no proposals for closing the direct line between Perth and Inverness.

asked the Minister of Transport how many British Railways appointments were made in managerial positions over the past five years from persons outside the industry with no railway experience.

The Railways Board informs me that over the past five years, 67 persons from outside the industry and with no previous railway experience have been appointed to managerial positions. Thirty-five of these have filled scientific, engineering and professional posts.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action has been taken by Her Majesty's Government to ensure that war disability and similar pensioners living in Rhodesia are able to draw their pensions in spendable currency in that country.

In order to overcome obstruction by the illegal régime to the provision of local currency, the Government has arranged to channel pension payments through a special account.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an estimate of the cost of exempting from Capital Gains Tax the disposal of securities not exceeding £1,000 in any one year.

The cost cannot be estimated. It would depend on the extent to which taxpayers took advantage of the exemption by spreading their disposals.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost of exempting from Capital Gains Tax the first £500 of gains.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer given to the hon. Member for Harrow, Central (Mr. Grant) on Tuesday, 7th December, 1965.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost of exempting from Capital Gains Tax the realised gains of unit trusts and investment trusts.

The cost cannot be estimated. It would depend on the extent to which investments were diverted to the trusts from other forms of saving.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an estimate of the cost of exempting from tax the first £50 of investment income.

About £80 million in a full year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost of exempting from Income Tax the first £500 per annum of earned income of all men aged 65 years and over and women aged 60 years and over.

If the first £500 of earnings (but not pensions) were completely ignored for tax purposes the full year cost might be of the order of £100 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost of allowing as an expense for Income Tax purposes for married women with children at school the sum of £250 per annum against their earned income.

About £35 million in a full year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the gross national product for each of the last five years for which figures are available was devoted, respectively, to health services and education services.

Public expenditure on the health and welfare services and on education services as a percentage of the gross national product at market prices in each of the years 1960 to 1964 was as follows:

	Health and Welfare per cent.	Education per cent.
1960	3·5	3·6
1961	3·5	3·7
1962	3·5	4·1
1963	3·5	4·2
1964	3·6	4·3

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the gross national product for each of the years covered in the National Plan it is proposed to allocate for expenditure on health services.

Public expenditure on the health and welfare services in 1964 represented 3·6 per cent. of the gross national product at market prices. The corresponding figure for 1970 is estimated at 3·8 per cent. It is not possible to give figures for the intervening years.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the salaries of London-based civil servants of the following grades, namely, Permanent Under-Secretary of State, Deputy Under-Secretary of State, Assistant Under-Secretary of State, principal, assistant principal, higher executive officer, higher clerical officer, in 1939, October, 1951, October, 1964, and February, 1966, showing the percentage rise for each grade from 1939 to 1951, from 1951 to 1964, from 1939 to 1964 and from 1964 to 1966.

"Permanent Under-Secretary of State", "Deputy Under-Secretary of State" and "Assistant Under-Secretary of State" are titles given to certain posts in Secretary of State Departments which are graded within the Higher Civil Service Structure at Permanent Secretary, Deputy Secretary and Under-Secretary (Principal Assistant Secretary in 1939) level respectively. These Higher Civil Service grades are included in the table below which gives the information requested.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the average age at which civil servants are appointed to the grade of Assistant Under-Secretary of State, principal, higher executive officer and higher clerical officer.

The average ages at which promotions have been made in recent years, are as follows:—

• To Under Secretary 47·5 years.
• To Principal (from Assistant Principal) 29·3 years.
• To Principal (from other grades) 39·3 years.
• To Higher Executive Officer 41·8 years.
• To Higher Clerical Officer 47 years.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost of repealing Rule 7 of the Ninth Schedule to the Income Tax Act 1952, and allowing in its place as a deduction all expenses reasonably incurred for the appropriate performance of the office or employment.

I cannot give an estimate, but the cost might be substantial.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consult the trustees of the National Maritime Museum with a view to retaining the services of Mr. Frank Carr as director.

No. The Trustees' decision, which I understand was unanimous, was in accordance with the general rules covering the retention or retirement of civil servants after the age of 60.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the number of children staying on voluntarily in secondary modern schools nationally and in Berkshire, respectively, expressed as a percentage of the comparable 13-year-old pupils in school two years previously.

The table below shows the number of pupils remaining at secondary modern schools beyond the statutory leaving age, in January, 1965, as a percentage of pupils aged 13 in these schools, 2–4 years earlier:

Ages in 1965		15*	16	17 and over
			%	%	%
England and Wales
Boys	…	20·4	7·1	0·9
Girls	…	19·1	6·3	0·8
Boys and Girls	…	19·8	6·7	0·9
Berkshire
Boys	…	34·4	13·0	1·4
Girls	…	38·0	13·3	1·7
Boys and Girls	…	36·1	13·2	1·5
*15 year-old pupils in January, 1965, with birthdays between 1st January and 1st September inclusive, expressed as a percentage of the estimated number of 13 year-old pupils in January, 1963, with birthdays in the same period

asked the Sectary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement on the establishment of, and the United Kingdom's contribution to, the International Cancer Research Centre at Lyons.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which was given to my hon. Friend the Member for The Hartlepools (Mr. Leadbitter) on 2nd November.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, in view of the fact that it was stated on 19th November, 1964 that a review was taking place of officers' pensions, if this has now been completed; and when he will make a statement.

The recent review of public service pensions has resulted in sizeable increases in officers' pensions; my right hon. Friend made a statement about these on 11th November last.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what approaches have been made to his Department by the Lockheed organisation regarding the purchase of F104 Starfighters; and what replies he made.

No such approaches have been made.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many officers and men, now serving in the Territorial Army in West Sussex, will become redundant as a result of the reorganisation of the Territorial Army.

There are now 256 members of the Territorial Army in West Sussex. No units of the Army Volunteer Reserve are proposed for West Sussex, but individuals will be able to volunteer for those units of the Reserve raised on a countrywide basis. The location of the units of the Home Defence Force will be one of the subjects to be covered by discussions between the Ministry of Defence, the Home Office, and the Council of Territorial and Auxiliary Forces Associations.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the total number of doctors in general practice in Scotland and available to the National Health Service at the last date for which statistics are available; and what were the numbers of withdrawals from, and additions to, the medical list during the 12 months preceding that date.

At 1st January, 1966, there were 2,618 principals in general practice in the National Health Service in Scotland. The numbers of withdrawals from, and admissions to, medical lists during the preceding 12 months are estimated to be 176 and 114 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details showing the numbers of teachers who opted to take advantage of the provisions for widows and dependants, and the numbers who opted out.

The latest figures show that 4,991 teachers have elected to join the Widows' Scheme and 9,796 have opted out. Twenty teachers have applied to take advantage of the Dependants' Scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what is the current estimated annual cost of teachers' salaries, the amount borne by the Exchequer, and the amount borne by local rates;(2) if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT figures showing the estimated cost to the Exchequer and local authorities, respectively, of the application for a 25 per cent. salary increase by the Scottish teachers, the 15 per cent. increase recommended by the National Joint Council for Teachers Salaries, and the proposed increase of 13 per cent.

The information is in the table set out below. It is not possible to give separate figures for the cost falling on the Exchequer and that falling on local rates because the expenditure of education authorities on teachers' salaries, as on most other educational items, is assisted by general grant, which is calculated by reference to the total relevant expenditure of educational and other services. General grant, however, currently amounts to about 60 per cent. of total estimated relevant expenditure. In addition the Exchequer contributes, under Exchequer Equalisation Grant about 19 per cent. of expenditure which would otherwise be borne by the rates.

Estimated Annual Cost of Teachers' Salaries*
Current Estimated Annual Cost	Cost of 25 per cent. Increase	Cost of 15 per cent. Increase	Cost of 13 per cent. Increase
£51·8m.	£12·9m.	£7·7m.	£6·7m.
*Salaries of teachers directly covered by salaries regulations, i.e., certificated whole-time teachers in education authority schools and whole-time teachers in further education centres.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what reduction his proposed salary scales represent for Scale 4 graduate teachers in their 3rd, 4th and 5th year of teaching, respectively, compared with the salary scales agreed by the Scottish Joint Council; and by how much a year such teachers would be better off in the English Burnham Scales.

The Answer to the first part of the Question is £40, £60 and £60; to the second part £100, £120 and £90. With regard to the second part some 95 per cent. of graduates in maintained schools in England and Wales teach in secondary schools so the more relevant comparison is with the Scottish Scale 3. The figures would then be Nil, £40 and—£10 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the difference between the salary awarded by the Scottish Joint Council to Scale 5 teachers of technical subjects in their third, fourth and fifth years and the salary imposed by his department; and what this represents in percentage reduction.

The information is in the following table:

Service Year	Amounts recommended by Scottish Joint Council	Amounts proposed in draft regulations	Difference	Percentage Reduction
	£	£	£
3rd	830	810	20	2·4
4th	880	840	40	4·5
5th	960	870	90	9·4

The disproportionate reductions between the third, fourth and fifth points of the scale in the draft regulations and those in the scale recommended by the Council arise because the draft scales are based, as nearly as may be, on a 13 per cent. increase, whereas the Council's scale, although providing generally for a 14·35 per cent. increase, gives higher increases at these points.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what research he has made into the cause of the recent influenza virus and its effect on school attendances; and what measures he proposes to take to strengthen resistance to such epidemics.

I am advised that the influenza virus isolated from recent cases in Scotland is a strain of Type B, and that the disease, though widespread, is of a relatively mild type. In some areas school attendances have been fairly seriously affected, though precise figures of absences are not available.Resistance to epidemics depends on many factors, among the most important being good general health and nutrition. Protective vaccination has been available for some years to the priority groups recommended by the Central and Scottish Health Services Councils.

asked the Minister of Aviation when, following his consideration of the recommendations made to him since publication of the Plowden Report, he will announce his plans for the future place of Messrs. Short Brothers and Harland as part of Great Britain's aerospace industries.

This is one of several issues arising out of the Plowden Report which I am studying urgently in the light of the views expressed during last week's debate. I shall make a statement as soon as possible.

asked the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies when the state of emergency in British Guiana will end; and when those imprisoned without trial will be released.

These are matters which are constitutionally within the competence of the Government and House of Assembly of British Guiana. At present the state of emergency extends by resolution of the House of Assembly until the 16th April, 1966.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations he has received from the Disablement Income Group concerning the difficulties facing disabled housewives; and what reply he has sent.

The Group has represented to me and to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance that there should be a new benefit called National Disability Income for all disabled people regardless of causation, need or contributions. We have assured the Group that the problems of disabled people will be considered in the course of our review of the social services.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give details of the latest estimates he has made of the agricultural subsidies for the United Kingdom for

I. FARMING GRANTS AND SUBSIDIES
			£million
			latest estimate of outturn 1965–66	actual outturn 1964–65
1.	General Fertilisers Subsidy	…	31·3	31·3
2.	Lime Subsidy	…	8·6	9·9
3.	Grants for Ploughing up Grassland	…	8·3	8·1
4.	Grassland Renovation Grants	…	—	—
5.	Field Drainage and Water Supply Grants	…	4·0	3·8
6.	Grants for Improvement of Livestock Rearing Land	…	1·4	1·4
7.	Winter Keep Grants	…	3·5	2·5
8.	Bonus Payments under the Tuberculosis (Attested Herds) Scheme	…	0·6	1·5
9.	Calf Subsidy	…	22·9	20·4
10.	Hill Cattle and Hill Sheep	…	11·1	11·7
11.	Silo Subsidies	…	0·3	0·3
12.	Grants for Farm Improvements	…	12·1	11·5
13.	Grants to Rabbit Clearance Societies	…	0·4	0·4
14.	Grants to Small Farmers	…	3·5	4·8
15.	Other Grants	…	0·1	0·1
Total I		…	108·1	107·7

II. IMPLEMENTATION OF AGRICULTURAL PRICE GUARANTEES
						£ million
						1965–66		1964–65
(1)	Cereals:—
	Wheat and Rye	…	…	…	…	14·1	43·5	15·9	63·3
	Barley	…	…	…	…	21·9		37·4
	Oats and mixed corn	…	…	…	…	7·5		10·0
(2)	Fatstock:—
	Cattle	…	…	…	…	5·5	54·5	9·8	47·5
	Sheep	…	…	…	…	5·9		5·7
	Pigs	…	…	…	…	43·1		32·0
(3)	Eggs	…	…	…	…		16·9		32·3
(4)	Wool	…	…	…	…		3·8		2·3
(5)	Potatoes	…	…	…	…		5·6		0·7
Total II		…	…	…	…		124·3		146·1

III. OTHER SERVICES
Payment to the Exchequer of Northern Ireland	1·3	0·8
Totals I, II, III	233·7	254·6

IV. ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES
Applicable to I and II only	10·0	9·7
TOTAL ESTIMATED COST OF AGRICULTURAL SUPPORT	243·7	264·3
Details of the original estimates of the cost of agricultural support were included in Table VI of the Memorandum by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on the Estimates 1965–66 (Cmnd. 2619) and in Appendix V of the Annual Review and Determination of Guarantees, 1965 (Cmnd. 2621).

Following are particulars of the latest estimates of the cost of agricultural support in the United Kingdom in the financial year 1965–66 for which provisions have been made in the Civil Estimates, Class V, Votes 3, 4, 5 and 6, with comparable figures for the outturn in the financial year 1964–65.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is

Division	Local Authority Areas							Total number of Police as at 30th January, 1966
								Establishment	Strength
A	City of Westminster (part)	…	…	…	…	…	…	968	886
B	Kensington and Chelsea	…	…	…	…	…	…	746	630
C	City of Westminster (part)	…	…	…	…	…	…	879	746
D	City of Westminster (part)	…	…	…	…	…	…	918	731
E	Camden	…	…	…	…	…	…	927	704
F	Hammersmith	…	…	…	…	…	…	576	468
G	Hackney	…	…	…	…	…	…	647	506
H	Tower Hamlets	…	…	…	…	…	…	855	648
J	Redbridge	…	…	…	…	…	…	1,036	849
	Waltham Forest	…	…	…	…	…	…
	Chigwell U.D.	(Essex)	…	…	…	…	…
	Waltham Holy Cross U.D.		…	…	…	…	…
K	Barking	…	…	…	…	…	…	1,129	954
	Havering	…	…	…	…	…	…
	New Ham	…	…	…	…	…	…
L	Lambeth	…	…	…	…	…	…	805	635
M	Southwark	…	…	…	…	…	…	908	739
N	Islington	…	…	…	…	…	…	677	524
P	Lewisham	…	…	…	…	…	…	1,024	832
	Bromley	…	…	…	…	…	…
Q	Brent	…	…	…	…	…	…	900	709
	Harrow	…	…	…	…	…	…
	Bushey U.D.	…	…	…	…	…	…
R	Bexley	…	…	…	…	…	…	853	701
	Greenwich	…	…	…	…	…	…
S	Barnet	…	…	…	…	…	…	849	663
	Potters Bar U.D.	…	…	…	…	…	…
	Elstree R.D.	(Herts)	…	…	…	…	…
	Aldenham Parish		…	…	…	…	…
T	Hounslow	…	…	…	…	…	…	1,072	848
	Richmond-Upon-Thames	…	…	…	…	…	…
	Staines U.D.	(Surrey)	…	…	…	…	…
	Sunbury on Thames U.D.		…	…	…	…	…
V	Kingston-Upon-Thames	…	…	…	…	…	…	761	616
	Merton	…	…	…	…	…	…
	Esher U.D. (Surrey)	…	…	…	…	…	…
W	Wandsworth	…	…	…	…	…	…	720	559
X	Ealing	…	…	…	…	…	…	959	740
	Hillington	…	…	…	…	…	…
Y	Enfield	…	…	…	…	…	…	1,034	809
	Haringey	…	…	…	…	…	…
	Cheshunt U.D.	(Herts)	…	…	…	…	…
	Northaw Parish		…	…	…	…	…
Z	Croydon	…	…	…	…	…	…	965	788
	Sutton	…	…	…	…	…	…
	Epsom and Ewell Borough	(Surrey)	…	…	…	…	…
	Banstead U.D.		…	…	…	…	…

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent welfare facilities exist in the police forces of England and Wales; and if he will take steps to see that such facilities are provided in each case.

The amenities and the sporting and social facilities provided

The information is as follows:vary according to the size and needs of the force. If H.M. Inspectors of Constabulary find any lack of welfare facilities in a particular force the attention of the police authority is drawn to it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to extend the principle of state management schemes in all new towns.

This is not a field in which the Government is contemplating legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many burglaries with violence have been committed in Great Britain in the last six months.

The number of offences of burglary known to the police in England and Wales in the six months ending 31st December, 1965, was 3,635; in Scotland burglary is not a separate offence. The statistics do not show the number of burglaries accompanied by personal violence.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will publish a list of persons and organisations who have made official protests against the Report of the National Board for Prices and Incomes on railway pay.

Official protests have reached my right hon. Friend from the Leeds Trades Council, the Barnet Divisional Labour Party, the Holborn and St. Pancras South Labour Party, the Fulwood Local Labour Party, the Bedford Constituency Labour Party and the Falkirk Branch of the Electrical Trades Union.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what decision he has reached about the Uxbridge redevelopment scheme.

My right hon. Friend's proposed modifications to this scheme were published by the Greater London Council on 1st December, 1965, and the period for the receipt of representations expired on 3rd January, 1966. He is now considering the representations he has received.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will consider granting subsidies proposed in the White Paper, The Housing Programme 1965–70, to local authority housing programmes for which tenders were accepted before the publication of the White Paper but where no building has yet taken place.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 1st February to my hon. Friend the Member for Oldham, East (Mr. Mapp).

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if the £7·5 million loan to Tanzania has now been fully agreed; and whether the whole will now be made available to the Tanzanian Government.

This loan was offered to the Tanzania Government, and accepted by them, in August, 1964. Negotiations to give effect to the loan had reached an advanced stage, but the letters embodying the agreed decisions had not been signed, when diplomatic relations were broken off. In view of this the whole amount is being reserved for Tanzania.

asked the Postmaster-General what information he has as to when the British Broadcasting Corporation will begin to use the new transmitting station at Belmont, Lincolnshire, which is already being used by independent television.

The construction time-table for the B.B.C.s stations is the Corporation's responsibility. It tells me, however, that it hopes to start transmitting BBC-1 from the Belmont station in the spring.

asked the Postmaster-General if there is or has been any censorship in respect of letters leaving England for Rhodesia.

There has been no censorship in this country of mail to or from Rhodesia since the end of the second world war.

asked the Postmaster-General whether telephone kiosks in the Highland area are provided on a basis of their financial return or on the needs of the community.

I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's reply to him of 8th December.